VENTURA COUNTY FOCUS | WEST COUNTY / POINT MUGU, PORT HUENEME

Navy Bases Consider Merging Departments

The Point Mugu and Port Hueneme Navy bases are considering a plan to cut costs by combining some departments, including public works, police, fire and recreation, officials said Thursday.

The move would mean further downsizing at the bases, with mostly civilian workers losing jobs, officials said. Leaders at both bases are working out details and do not yet know how many workers would be laid off and how much money would be saved. They said middle- and upper-management positions probably would be trimmed.

In all, departments at both bases employ 1,800 people, said Capt. Anthony Parisi, who oversees public works at Point Mugu. Officials hope to have the plan finalized by October.

Capt. Stephen Beal, commander of Point Mugu Naval Air Weapons Station, discussed the streamlining at a meeting of Navy and political leaders at Oxnard City Hall. He described it as the latest effort to save money through increased efficiency.

"Certainly this is a time of reduction and downsizing," Beal said. "[We're] trying to reduce our costs."

Also Thursday, Navy officials said a proposal to bring 16 E-2C Hawkeye planes to Point Mugu is expected to receive final Pentagon approval in May. The move is expected to bring about 2,500 military personnel and family members to Ventura County, with the first planes and workers arriving in July.